Sectional directory



Aug- 21, 1934. E. M. soMMERs 1,970,822v

SECTIONAL DIRECTORY Filed Jan. l5, 1934 ffy-@- I l an un n Patented g. 21, 1934 .UNITEB .STATES rarest orgies l -'.l-abletr& Ticket Company,

poration of Illinois Chicago, Ill., a cor- Application January 15, 1934, Serial No. 706,597

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to sectional directories such as those customarily employed for directory purposes in large buildings, and has particular reference to improvements in the construction of such devices.

A principal object of the invention is the provision `of a sectional directory which is neat in appearance, sturdy, and economical .in construction.

An additional object is to provide a-sectional directory from which the individual sections may be removed with ease and replaced in .properly adjusted position.

A further object is to provide a sectional directory which will retain the individual sections in adjustable and secure relation with respect to each other and to the directory frame structure.

`These and other objects will be apparent upon `consideration of the following description and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is Ya front elevation View of a building directory or changeable sign constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar `to Fig. 2 and shows the operation of mounting an individual directory section in the main frame;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the sectional directory shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and shows in detail the construction of one unit ofthe lateral adjusting mechanism of the directory; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken vfore is exemplified in Patents Nos. 454,424 and 560,878, issued to Henry Willson, and No. 1,181,- 641, issued to Burnside. A common structure for mounting the auxiliary or individual frame structures Within the main directory frame has consisted in a lower rack and an upper-rack having `a ,plurality of backing-bars therebetween andl (Cl. L10--63) passing transversely of the directory frame to engage the backs of the-auxiliary frame members. Particularly in the case of relatively wide directories, this type of structure has been found unsatisfactory for several reasons, includingthe in- 360 secure mounting or" the auxiliary Aframe members and their tendency to become loose within the main directory frame.

In accordance with the present invention, a highly satisfactory mounting structure is pro- `675 vided by a particular arrangement of an upper header channel and alower rest channel spaced apart by suitable vertical side members extending inwardly beyond the ends of the channels, the vertical side members having adjustable means t0 extending inwardly from the ends ofthe channels `and situated behind the inner edge of the side members for adjusting the lateral position of the individual or auxiliary frame structures.

As shown in the drawing, the directory is con- 75 structed of a main lframe 10 which ordinarily is of heavy brass or bronze capable of withstanding the lsevere use to which directories of this type are subjected. The upper portion of the directory is provided with a rectangular laterally-extendn T8,0 ing opening which is covered by a plate 11 carrying suitable information such as the word Directory, as shown in Fig. 1. This plate is held in place over the rectangular opening by means of suitable clamps 12 and a set screw 13. 85

Directly beneath the plate 11 is fixed an upper header channel 14 formed by a vertical front plate 15, a horizontal upper plate 16 and a downwardly and inwardly extending rear plate 17.

At the bottom of the frame structure 10 -is pro- '59.0 vided a rest channel 18 formed by a vertical front plate 19, a horizontal lower plate 20 and a vertical rear plate 21 extending laterally of the frame.

The header channel 141and the rest channel 18 are joined by vertical side members 2-2 which 95 space the channels apart a distance suicient to accommodate therebetween the individual or auxiliary frame structures 23. Side members 22 are provided with iront plates 24 Whichfextend inwardly beyond the ends of header `channel 14 100 and rest-channel 18. In the preferred modication of the invention the plate 24 4will take the place of portions of the front walls l5 and 19, as

shown in Fig. V6 of the drawing.

`The directory shown in the drawing isof lthe; type accommodating three auxiliary frame sections 23, each of which has an outerbronzefrarne 25 provided with a key opening 26 in'its lowerf edge designed to permit tof easy insertion and removal of the auxiliary frame structures.fromrthemainf- '.110

frame, as will be described. Within the frame 25 is mounted the usual backing member upon which is mounted suitable words, names, numbers and the like, and a front plate glass protective member. Where three auxiliary units 23 are employed in a building directory, the names of tenants beginning with the letters A to I, for example, may be mounted in the iirst unit, names beginning with letters J to Q in the second unit, and names beginning with letters R to Z in the third unit.

After the names are properly listed, the individual units are mounted in the main frame.

In accordance with my invention, the width of upper plate 16 is suicient to space front wall 15 and rear wall 1'7 apart a distance greater than the width of frame structures 25 of the individual directory units, and the rear wall 17 is extended inwardly and downwardly so that its distance from the front wall 15 will be substantially equal to or only slightly greater than the width of frame structures 25 at a point adjacent the lower edge of the front wall 15, as will be seen in Figs. 2 and 3. Also, lower plate 20 of the rest channel 18 is of suilicient width that the latter will be of substantially the same width as the frame structure 25 of the auxiliary directoryV units. Front wall 19 of the rest Achannel 18 is of considerably less height than front wall 15 of the header channel.

The individual frame units are mounted in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3. That is, the upper edge of a unit 23 is pressed upwardly into the header channel 14 from the iront of the main frame, and at an angle thereto, as shown in Fig. 3. When the lower edge of the unit 23 has cleared the iront wall 19 of the rest channel 18, it is then pressed inwardly until it contacts the rear wall 21 of the rest channel and lallowed to drop by gravity into engagement with the horizontal wall 20, thereby securely locking the lower edge of the unit against accidental removal or displacement.

As thev unit 23 is lowered into the position shown in Fig. 2, the upper edgeof the unit is lowered to a point slightly above the lower edge of the front wall 15 of the header channel.

After being mounted in the header and rest channels in the manner described, the outer auxiliary units are moved outwardly along the channels to a position adjacent the ends thereof and to such an extent that the vertical edges of the units pass back of front plates 24 of the upright frame members 22, as shown in Fig. 5. The central unit is then mounted in the frame to complete the assembly.

To limit the outward or transverse movement of the units when mounted in the manner described, I have provided adjustable means situated on the rear side of plates 24 and extending inwardly of the ends of the header and rest channels for engaging the vertical sides of individual directory units 23 when the latter are in predetermined position with respect to the channels and front plates 211. As shown in the drawing and particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, a plurality of block members 27 are secured to the rear side of front plates 24 in any suitable manner. There are two oppositely positioned block members 27 adjacent the header channel and a like number of similarly disposed block members adjacent the rest channel.

Each block is internally threaded to receive an inwardly extending eccentric screw member 28.

To properly position the auxiliary frame units within the header and rest channels, the several eccentric screws 28 are adjusted to such position as to engage the outer edges of the units when the latter have moved outwardly behind the iront plate members 24 a proper distance. This adjustment is such that the several auxiliary units nt together snugly when completely assembled. The outer edges of the auxiliary frame units extend outwardly beyond the inner edges of plates 24 and the heads of screws 28 are adjustable intermediate the ends of the header and rest channels and the inner edges of plates 24. The eccentric structure of the screw members insures that their adjusted position will be maintained. The eccentricity of the screw members may be obtained in one way by damaging the threads of the screw on one side. By making the front slightly oversize, substantially the same result will be obtained. Any other well known means of providing eccentricity of the screw may be employed.

Various changes inthe above described structure may be made without departing from my invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A sectional directory, comprising a main frame structure having an upper header channel, a lower rest channel, and Vertical side members extending between said channels and spacing the same apart a distance sufficient to accommodate sectional frame structures therebetween, the width of said rest channel being substantially that oi a section frame structure, the depth and width of said header channel being greater than the depth and width of the rest channel, and the rear wall of said upper channel extending downwardly and inwardly to provide an opening adjacent the lower edge of the front wall of said header channel of substantially the saine width as the width of the rest channel;

and adjustable means situated behind the Vertical side members for determining the position of sectional frame members within said channels, said means having sectional frame contacting members extending inwardly of the ends of said channels.

2. A sectional directory comprising a main frame structure having a lower rest channel, an upper header channel of greater depth and width than the depth and widthY of said lower channel, whereby to allow insertion of an auxiliary directory frame unit in said main frame by angular insertion in said header channel and lowering into said rest channel, vertical side members extending between said channels and spacing the same apart a distance sumcient to accommodate auxiliary directory frame units therebetween, said vertical side members extending inwardly of the outer ends of said channels on the front side thereof, and at least three auxiliary directory frame units positioned in said channels, the outermost of said units being positioned behind said vertical side members, and the intermediate unit fitting snugly aaginst said outermost units to maintain the latterin position behind said vertical side members, and means for determining the outermost position of said outermost units in said channels.

3. A sectional directory of the structure specified in claim 2, in which the intermediate auxiliary frame unit is provided with means for removal of said unit from the main frame.

4. A sectional directory, comprising a main frame structure havinga lower rest channel, an

wardly of the outer ends of said channel on the front side thereof, and adjustable means situated behind the Vertical side members for determining the position of sectional frame members within said channels, said means having sectional frame contacting members extending inwardly of the ends of said channels and terminating behind said Vertical side members.

ELWIN M. SOMMERS. 

